Meet the Adams Family

"As we move ever closer to becoming 'empty nesters' we wanted to have something that would be attractive to the kids so we could continue with quality family time."

Ken and Kim Adams have built successful careers and a picture perfect family. Ken is the Director of Engineering for Powered Resection at Arthrex, a major medical device company, and Kim is the Director of Nursing at Moorings Park, a nationally acclaimed Continuing Care Retirement Center. Their daughter Rachael (19) is a sophomore at Florida Gulf Coast University in nearby Fort Myers and son Ryan (17) is preparing for college as a senior at Palmetto Ridge High School.

“In 2008 Kim and I decided to buy our first boat to share quality family time. At the time Ryan was 10 and Rachael was 12,” Ken explained. “After considerable researching, we decided on a pre-owned Sea Ray 240 Sundeck from MarineMax Venice. It was a good experience. The boat looked brand-new and they walked us through all the systems and answered all of our questions. However, we did not perceive how exceptional MarineMax is until we bought our second boat. ” For the next two years the Adams family enjoyed frequent trips to Keewaydin Island and exploring the coastal water in and around Naples.

“Experiencing fun boating adventures all together as a family and with our confidence growing, Kim and I knew we wanted to take it to the next level,” said Ken. “So, it was time to go bigger.”
Their second boat they bought from a private broker and the experience was totally different. Looking to extend their boating adventures to more distant locals they researched online and found a late model Meridian 341 Sedan. A broker sold them the yacht and then promptly stepped away leaving the Adams with the headache of learning how to manage and maintain a yacht without any guidance or support.

“I am sure not all brokers are the same. We were new to bridge boats, so after closing we were left to figure out everything on our own. We just had a bad experience, and it put us off from buying another boat from anyone but MarineMax,” said Ken. “Despite the rough start, we loved the Meridian and we got to spend a lot of time on it, including a week-long trip to Key West staying at the Galleon Resort Marina.”

As they discovered that cruising was becoming a big part of their lives, the Adams family found themselves wanting more room to live and entertain onboard. A yacht more capable and comfortable to travel to even more distant destinations. Ken researched and found a well-priced previously loved Meridian 441 Sedan at MarineMax Pompano. He promptly bought it through the local MarineMax in Naples. They handled everything with a complete orientation and ready to go.

“I wanted something with longer range, more durability and the ability to explore new places,” explained Ken. “Being on the 441 provides enough space for everyone and all the conveniences of a hotel. We call it our floating condo.” “As we move ever closer to becoming ‘empty nesters’ we wanted to have something that would be attractive to the kids so we could continue with quality family time,” said Kim. “Rachael often takes control of the helm, and we tease each other about who is really the First Mate. It is me of course.”

Since acquiring the Meridian 441, the Adams family have been on several MarineMax Getaways! including trips to the Bahamas, and Tween Waters Resort and Marina on Captiva Island.

“The Captiva trip was interesting because most of the boats were from MarineMax Sarasota, and we did not know the owners,” said Kim. “But we quickly found that the common interest in boating allowed us to share our stories and become fast friends.”

When asked why they like MarineMax Getaways! Ken said, “Traveling in a group with experienced leaders who have planned for every contingency gives me the confidence to go to places, quite frankly, I didn’t even know existed. And, if you have unexpected problems, the MarineMax team knows what to do and arranges to get the problem resolved. No one is left behind.”

“Discovering new and beautiful destinations without experiencing the fear of crossing an ocean is why I enjoyed our two trips to the Bahamas with MarineMax leading the way,” continued Kim. “I love just relaxing and watching gin-clear water for days at a time.”

“Boating has really changed our lives as a family. We all love the opportunity to break away from our work and school routines and have time together,” added Ken. “We are so fortunate to have instilled the allure of boating into Rachael and Ryan's lives. We believe our boating life will continue to draw us all together and we will have the pleasure of shared experiences on our boat for rest of our lives.”

The Adams seem to have established a two-year cycle for ownership. It is now just over two years since they purchased the Meridian 441 Sedan and Ken reports that he has been eyeing a Meridian 541 Sedan online.

“When we actually reach a buying decision, we will definitely work with MarineMax to make the deal. We don’t want to miss all the advantages that owning through a MarineMax store provides, like the Getaways!, great opportunities to learn more through their seminar series, fabulous customer service and knowledgeable and courteous service technicians. We love being a part of the MarineMax family.”